No increase seen in book reviews

Sue Thackeray

Published 7:00 pm, Saturday, July 12, 2003

However, it hasn't increased the number of books the committee has been asked to review.

The committee first reviewed "It's Perfectly Normal" and "It's So Amazing," both by Robie H. Harris, which had caused dozens of members of the conservative Republican Leadership Council to inundate Commissioners Court meetings with claims that the books promoted homosexuality and abortion and contained pornographic illustrations.

Those books, intended for young adults and children, respectively, were returned to their original positions on library shelves by the committee.

Those opposed to the books, however, claimed to have found 200 objectionable books on county library shelves. But the number of requests for reviews by the committee is nowhere near that number, Montgomery County Library Director Jerilynn Williams said.

"We haven't received an onslaught of requests like was talked about," Williams said.

Actually, the number of review requests has remained about the same as it has been for the past several years.

"This policy (for books to be reviewed by a committee when requested) was in place when I came to the system about five years ago," Williams said. "There have been about five requests per year since then, and we are still in the same ballpark this year."

Committee members decided to remove the book "Castro!" from the shelves of the libraries because of factual errors in the 1993 publication written by Don E. Beyer, not because of any objection to the subject matter.

The committee also decided to move the audio book "The Upper Room," by Mary Monroe, from the young adult section to the adult section because it contains adult language, Williams said.

Two other books, "Weezie Bat," by Francesca Lia Block, and "Desired Lines," by another author, were left in the young adult section following review.

The committee is preparing to review its seventh item since the committee was expanded.

In August, the committee is scheduled to review "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes," by Chris Crutcher.

A citizen asked that the book, which is located in the young adult section of the libraries, be reviewed because it is "inappropriate for the age group," according to the review request form. "Not only does it address such hot topic issues as abortion and suicide, but it is filled with profanity."

The identity of the person requesting the review was withheld by library officials.

According to the request, the resident learned about the book after children in an area school were given an assignment to read it, Williams said.

"This mother heard about the book in the classroom, but is asking us to remove it from our shelves in a public library," Williams said. "I don't quite understand why she is coming to the public library when it's being used in the school, but every citizen has the right to request that the committee review a book that they find unacceptable."

Williams said she also received an e-mail from a teacher who uses the book in her classes, voicing support for the work.